Camera cocking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A camera mechanism for preparing a camera to effect an exposure, such as by cocking a shutter or by indexing a multilamp flash unit socket. The mechanism employs a single-lobed and spiralshaped cam or gear in a linkage that translates motion from a drive member, associated with film movement, to the shutter or socket. Substantially one complete revolution of the gear performs its intended functions, and then the gear automatically is disengaged from the drive member to permit further rotation of the member without further influence on such functions. The mechanism is particularly adapted for translating rotational motion, such as from a film-winding drive, either to linear motion or to complex motion including a substantial linear component, for cocking the shutter and indexing the socket. The mechanism is also adapted for metering advancement of film in the camera and for preventing double exposures.

Williams July 4, 1971 [54] CAMERA COCKING MECHANISM [72] Inventor:Francis A. Williams, Rochester, NY.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 99,184

I [52] U.S.Cl. ..95/31 AC, 95/11 L [51] lnt.Cl. ..G03b l/04,G03b 17/42[58] Field of Search ..95/31 R, 31 AC, 31 FL, 31 FM, 95/11 R, 11 L;74/437 [56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,777 7/1911Linnartz ..74/437 3,552,286 1/1971 Horton et al. .....95/11 L 1,237,7368/1917 Aborn 74/437 X 3,057,277 10/1962 Swarofsky et a1. ..95/3l R3,487,758 1/1970 Rigolimi et al. 95/31 AC X 2,309,382 1/1943 Cazin..95/31 FL 3,416,424 12/1968 Harvey ..95/3l AC FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLlCATlONS 482,537 3/1938 Great Britain ..95/31 FL PrimaryExaminer-Joseph F. Peters, .1 r. Attorney--Robert W. Hampton and J.Addison Mathews [57] ABSTRACT A camera mechanism for preparing a camerato effect an exposure, such as by cocking a shutter or by indexing amultilamp flash unit socket. The mechanism employs a singlelobed andspiral-shaped cam or gear in a linkage that translates motion from adrive member, associated with film movement, to the shutter or socket.Substantially one complete revolution of the gear performs its intendedfunctions, and then the gear automatically is disengaged from the drivemember to permit further rotation of the member without furtherinfluence on such functions. The mechanism is particularly adapted fortranslating rotational motion, such as from a film-winding drive, eitherto linear motion or to complex motion including a substantial linearcomponent, for cocking the shutter and indexing the socket. Themechanism is also adapted for metering advancement of film in the cameraand for preventing double exposures.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 41972 3.673.941

sum 10F 3 FRANCIS A. WILLIAMS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUL 4 I972 21 I 'l I- I7 FIG. 4

SHEET 20F 3 I5 66 FRANCIS A. WILLIAMS {#4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUL 4 1972 SHEET 3!)? 3 FIG. 6

ATTORNEYS 1 CAMERA COCKING MECHANISM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thepresent invention relates to photographic cameras and more specificallyto an improved mechanism for preparing a camera to effect an exposure.The invention has particular utility in cameras including a member thatrotates in association with the movement of film in the camera, fortranslating such rotary motion into motion having a substantial linearcomponent that is suitable for cocking a shutter or indexing amulti-lamp flash unit socket.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known to provide photographiccameras with means for advancing film and simultaneously for priming orsetting various other camera components such as shutters or flashdevices. It also is known to provide cameras with suitable linkages fortranslating rotational movement from a film-winding, or otherfilm-associated member, into movement including a substantial linearcomponent, at least in some portion of the linkage, that is useable forcocking a camera shutter or indexing a flashcube socket. Variousdifierent types of such mechanisms are disclosed, for example, incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,319,547; 3,335,651; 3,353,647; and3,353,468; and in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 731,058, entitled FLASH CAMERA, filed on May 22, 1968 in thename of M. S. Montalto now U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,552. A somewhat differentbut related mechanism for effecting motion translation in afilm-metering device is disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 855,542, entitled FILM METERING MECHANISM, filedSept. 5, 1969 in the name of H. Ettischer, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,432.

In view of the many different approaches exemplified by theabovementioned photographic patents and applications, and by relatedstructures in non-photographic apparatus, it initially would seem thatmany suitable mechanisms already should exist that would be entirelysatisfactory for setting cameras prior to exposure. Actually, however,the unique camera environment presents numerous more subtle problemsthat have proven to be particularly difficult to solve in an efficientmanner. Considering a camera having a rotary filmwinding lever thatadvances film in thecamera by winding it onto a take-up spool, and thatalso effects the cocking of a shutter and indexing of a flashcubesocket, it must be remembered that the winding lever moves a differentamount, or rotates through a different angular sweep, with each frame offilm that is advanced. This results from the increase in the effectivediameter of the take-up spool with each successive convolution of filmwound thereon, and ordinarily prevents a direct and positive couplingbetween the winding lever and the shutter or socket, both of whichgenerally require constant amounts of movement prior to each exposure.Of course, this can be accounted for by providing a lost-motion linkagebetween the winding lever and the shutter or socket, but in doing so itis difficult to retain efficiency when the maximum amount ofwinding-lever movement available at the beginning of a film roll will nolonger be available toward the end of the roll.

A similar problem results from the fact that the cocking of a shuttergenerally does not require the same amount of movement at the sametime'as is required for indexing the socket. Thus, at one particulartime the force that must be applied to the winding lever may have to besufficient to cock the shutter, to rotate the flashcube and to effectvarious other operations, while at some other time, perhaps aftercompletion of the flashcube rotation, such force could be significantlyless while still effecting completion of shutter cocking. Again, theuneven distribution of necessary force results in lost effciency.

These and other problems will become more apparent hereinafter,especially insofar as they relate to the desirability of translatingmotion from a member that rotates with film movement into motion havinga substantial linear component for effecting the cocking of a shutter orthe indexing of a flashcube socket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, animproved and efficient mechanism is provided for setting a camera priorto an exposure. The camera is set from a member that moves with or inresponse to the movement of film in the camera, such as a rotatablefilm-winding lever, by translating the motion of that member through aspiral-shaped or 6" cam of suitable configuration to various othercamera components, such as a shutter and/or flashcube socket.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the cam is movableindependently of or at least with a different type of motion than thatof the member, the latter preferably being rotary motion and the formerpreferably including a substantial linear movement or component.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cam is providedwith a particular configuration for effecting a greater mechanicaladvantage during certain stages in its operation than at other stages.During initial stages, for example, when the greatest forces might berequired for both rotating a flashcube socket and cocking a shutter, themechanical advantage is greatest. At later stages, however, when eitherone but not both of the socket rotation and shutter cocking areaccomplished, the speed of operation is increased in lieu of the lesserneeded mechanical advantage.

Other features of the invention include a gear-driven cam of theabovementioned types, a double-exposure-prevention device, and improvedmeans for permitting continued operation of the mechanism for filmwinding without further influence on its setting functions, once suchsetting functions are fully accomplished.

Various means for practicing the invention and other advantagw and novelfeatures thereof will be apparent from the following detaileddescription of an illustrative preferred embodiment of the invention,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which likereference characters denote like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic plan view of a camera mechanism accordingto a preferred embodiment of the invention with the depicted componentsshown in their respective positions after a film exposure has been madebut before the commencement of the next film advancing operation.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 andincludes a fragmentary illustration of the mechanism support plateomitted in the other figures for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 1 and shows the positions of the illustratedcomponents when the winding member has rotated just far enough tocomplete the displacement of the cocking lever.

FIG. 4 illustrates the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 upon completionof the advancement of the film and shows the manner in which the filmmetering system temporarily blocks further rotation of the film-windingmember.

FIG. 5 shows the subject mechanism with its shutter operating slidedepressed to operate the camera shutter and to restore the variousmechanism components to their initial positions illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 corresponds generally to FIG. 4 but illustrates the manner inwhich the metering mechanism prevents further advancement of the filmand operation of the shutter after all of the available film exposureareas have been exposed and wound past the exposure position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, a simple and reliable camerasetting mechanism is provided with a translatable spiral-shaped gearinitially engaged at its point of minimum peripheral radius with acorresponding circular drive member. The drive member is adapted to berotated in unison with the movement of film in the camera, and therebyimparts an opposite rotation to the spiral gear, as well as adisplacement of its axis away from the rotating drive member. Thisdisplacement then is utilized to effect a similar displacement in aspring-loaded cocking lever that is coupled to one or more cameracomponents for properly setting such components prior to an exposure. Asthe spiral gear completes a single revolution, the cocking lever reachesits position of maximum displacement, completes its cocking or settingfunctions, and then rides out of engagement with the circular drivemember. The spiral gear then is prevented from re-engaging the circulardrive member until after the camera shutter has operated, to permitfurther rotation of the drive member with further film movement butwithout further influence on the cocking lever. After an exposure iscompleted, however, the spiral gear returns to its initial position inengagement with the circular drive member in readiness to prepare thecamera for the next exposure.

' The drive ratio between the circular drive member and spiral gear issuch that the latter completes a single revolution only slightly beforethe former has rotated through the minimum angle required to advance thefilm. Accordingly, the manual force required to perform the filmadvancing and mechanism cocking operation is reduced by utilizing almostall available movement of the drive member to provide power for themechanism cocking operation. Additionally, the efi'ective diameter ofthe spiral gear is smallest at the initial stages of its rotation forthe greatest mechanical advantage to initiate setting of the camera, butincreases for the greatest speed of operation as camera setting iscompleted and less force is required.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, thepreferred embodiment of the invention comprises a rotatable film windingmember 11 onto which successive convolutions of an elongate strip offilm 12 is wound to define a take-up roll 13 for collecting the filmafter it has been advanced past an exposure position in alignment withlens 14 and shutter blade 15. The strip of film is provided with aseries of uniformly spaced metering perforations 16 and can be containedin a removable film magazine or cartridge, not shown, in a manner wellknown to those skilled in the art. The film winding member is supportedby a shaft 17 rotatably carried by a mechanism plate 18, partiallyillustrated in FIG. 2 but omitted in the other figures for purposes ofclarity. The mechanism plate also supports the other illustratedcomponents of the subject mechanism and is enclosed in an appropriateconventional camera housing, which has been omitted from the drawings tomore clearly illustrate the more relevant parts of the mechanism towhich the present invention is directed.

A circular driving cam or gear 19 is carried by shaft 17 and is attachedto a ratchet wheel 21 for rotation in unison with the winding member 11.A spring-loaded ratchet pawl 22 bears against the adjacent teeth 23 onthe periphery of the ratchet wheelto allow the latter to rotate only inthe counterclockwise direction shown by arrow 24in FIG. 1. The toothededge of the ratchet wheel can be accessible through a slot in the camerahousing to allow manual rotation of the winding member or a moreconventional winding knob or lever can be connected to shaft 17 for thesame purpose. By rotating the winding member, the film can be unwoundfrom a supply roll, not shown, to move in the direction of arrow 25 pastthe exposure position, where it is held in a flat condition at a focalplane of the camera lens by appropriate front and back support memberspartially shown at numerals 26 and 27.

A cocking lever 28 is pivotally attached to the mechanism plate by pivotstud 29 and is biased toward gear 19 by a relatively weak hairpin spring30. A spiral or 6" shaped cam or gear 31 is rotatably attached to thecocking lever in horizontal alignment with gear 19 by a bearing pin 32.Accordingly, when the circular gear and the spiral gear are meshedtogether, as shown in FIG. 1, counterclockwise rotation of the formercauses the latter to rotate clockwise and to displace the cocking leveraway from gear 19 because of the spiral configuration of gear 31. Whilesuch displacement is pivotal in nature, the length or radius of thecocking lever 28 is selected to provide a substantial linear componentof movement at its distal end opposite to pivot stud 29.

The front and back support members 26 and 27 are provided withrespective opposed openings 33 and 34 with which successive filmperforations are aligned. After an exposure has been made but before thenext film advancing operation has been commenced, a film perforation islocated adjacent to the center of the opposed openings as shown inFIG. 1. A metering member 35 is movably attached to the mechanism plateby a stud 36 extending through an elongate slot 37 and includes anangular tip 38 adapted to be received in opening 33. A coil spring 39biases the metering member both rearwardly and in a clockwise direction(as viewed in FIG. 1) so that its tip bears against the face of the filmadjacent to perforation 16 and against the right edge of opening 33 whenthe mechanism is in the condition shown in FIG. 1. An ear 4] extendslaterally from the metering member and engages a pivotally mounted pawl42 biased toward the car by a hairpin spring 43. As illustrated in FIG.4, the pawl 42 is adapted to engage the periphery of ratchet wheel 21 toblock film-winding rotation of the winding member, but it is shown in aninoperative position in FIG. 1.

Operating member 44 is slidably mounted to the mechanism plate by rivets45 and 46 extending through elongate slot 47 and is biased toward itsuncocked position shown in FIG. 1 by a coil spring 48 connected toshutter opening car 49. In this position, tongue 51 of operating member44 engages the rounded end 52 of cocking lever 28 and holds the spiralgear 31 in meshing engagement with the circular gear 19.

During the initial winding rotation of the winding member 11, the filmslides past the tip of the metering member as that member and pawl 42remain in the respective positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.Simultaneously, the rotation of the spiral gear displaces the cockinglever along a linear path and thereby moves the operating member towardits cocked position in opposition to spring 48. When the spiral gear hasrotated through somewhat less than a complete revolution, its largestperipheral increment is meshed with the circular gear, as shown in FIG.3. Accordingly, the cocking lever is in its position of maximumdisplacement and the operating member has thereby been moved to itsfully cocked position.

A latch dog 53 is pivotally supported adjacent to the operat ing memberby stud 54, and is biased toward stop pin 55 by a relatively weak spring56. As the operating member moves to its cocked position, the slopededge 57 of latch dog tooth 58 is engaged by the slope end of latchingcar 59 on the operating member and the latch dog is thereby carnmed pastthe latching ear so that the dog can releasably hold the operatingmember in its cocked position shown in FIG. 3.

As best shown FIG. 2, shutter blade 15 is aperture attached by a stud 61to the front wall 62 of the mechanism plate, which is provided with anexposure aperture 63 aligned with lens 14. A light wire spring 64 biasesthe shutter blade in a clockwise direction to maintain its upwardlyextending tongue 65 in contact with stop pin 66 so that the circularlowerportion of the blade is aligned with aperature 63. During thecocking movement of the operating member, shutter operating car 49engages the upper tip of the shutter blade tongue and cams it forwardlyso that car 49 can move past the blade tongue. When the operating memberis fully cocked, ear 49 is therefore to the right of the upper tip ofthe blade tongue as shown in FIG. 3.

Socket member 67 (FIG. 2) is indexably or rotatably mounted to themechanism plate and is adapted to receive a conventional flash unit orflashcube provided with four flash lamps. The socket member is providedwith a generally square hub 68 engaged by a flat detent spring 69 thatresiliently holds it at 90 angular increments so that one of the flashunits will always face toward the object to be photographed. The base ofhub 68 includes four indexing lugs 71 horizontally aligned with aresilient indexing blade 72 carried by the operating member. During thecocking movement of the operating member from the position shown in FIG.1 to the position shown in FIG. 3, lip 73 of the indexing blade engagesthe adjacent indexing lug and drives the socket member in acounterclockwise direction through somewhat less than a quarterrevolution. Before the indexing blade disengages the socket indexinglug, the socket member has rotated to a position at which the detentspring will complete its quarter revolution movement, thereby aligningthe next available flash lamp with the photographed subject.

After the camera mechanism has been cocked, as described above, thecontinuing rotation of the winding member causes the largest peripheralincrement of the spiral driven gear to rotate out of mesh with thecircular driving gear. When this occurs, spring 30 moves the cockinglever to the position shown in FIG. 4, in which its rounded end 52 abutsagainst blocking ear 74 of the cocked operating member. In thisposition, the minimum radius portion of the spiral gear is spacedslightly from the circular gear, which can rotate without producingfurther movement of the cocking lever.

As previously mentioned, the subject mechanism is preferably designed toutilize as much of the film winding rotation as possible to effectcocking of the operating member. Therefore, relatively little furtherrotation of the winding member brings the next perforation 16' (FIG. 4)into alignment with tip 38 of the metering member. When this occurs, thetip of the metering member enters that film perforation as shown in FIG.4 and the movement of the film displaces the metering member to movepawl 42 into engagement with the ratchet wheel in opposition to springs39 and 43. Further advancement of the film is therefore temporarilyblocked and a predetermined unexposed film area is properly positionedfor exposure.

A shutter release slide 75 is slidably supported by rivets 76 extendingthrough slot 77 and is biased rearwardly by a spring 78. When thephotographer depresses the release slide push button 79 to produce aphotograph, the release slide engages and releases latch dog 53 as shownin FIG. 5. Accordingly, the spring-loaded operating member moves rapidlyback to its initial position, thus causing shutter opening car 49 tomomentarily open the shutter by moving blade to the position shown inbroken lines in FIG. 2. The return of the operating member to itsinitial position also moves blocking ear 74 beyond the rounded end ofthe cocking lever and thereby allows the spiral gear to reengage thecircular gear without appreciable impact. Simultaneously, the shutterreleasing movement of slide 75 causes slide ear 80 to engage reset ear81 of the metering member and to withdraw that member from the filmperforation. The metering member therefore assumes the position shown inFIG. 5 and pawl 42 disengages the ratchet wheel. When the push button isreleased, the metering member and the latch dog both return to theirinitial positions depicted in FIG. 1 so that the subsequent film windingand cocking operation can proceed in the same manner just described.

After all of the available film areas have been exposed, the finalrotation of the winding member causes the last exposed film area to bewound onto the film take-up roll before a final perforation l6 arrivesin alignment with the metering member. Because of the longer length ofthis final perforation, the tip of the metering member passes throughthat perforation as shown in FIG. 6 to bring tongue 83 on the meteringmember into alignment with a corresponding tongue 84 on disabling lever85, which is pivotally supported by rivet 86 and biased toward stop pin87 by spring 88. The final movement of the film displaces the meteringmember as shown in FIG. 6 and thus blocks further rotation of thewinding member by means of pawl 42 in the same manner previouslydescribed. Simultaneously, the angular movement of the metering memberrotates the disabling lever in opposition to spring 88 so that the lowerend of that lever blocks the latch dog from moving out of engagementwith latching ear 59 of the operating member. Accordingly, push button79 cannot be depressed and the operator is thus alerted to replace thecamera film.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the invention employs a spiralgear meshed with and driven by a circular gear, it should be recognizedthat a corresponding spiral driven member could be rotated by a smoothcircular driving member through frictional engagement. For example, thespiral edge of the driven member might bear against a rubber or plastictire corresponding to the illustrative circular gear. Alternatively, theedges of both the driving and driven members might be provided with fineknurling or the like to provide positive driving engagement similar tothat of two conventional meshing gears. It also should be apparent thatthe radius of the driven member need not vary as a fixed function of itsangular rotation but can be altered to provide a nonlinear change in thegear ratio as the cocking lever is displaced. Additionally, it should beapparent that the circular gear could be driven by fihn or othermovement, rather than being utilized to move the film. An illustrativeembodiment of photographic apparatus incorporating the present inventionwith such an arrangement is described in the cross-referenced relatedapplication, US. Patent Application Ser. No. 23,642, entitledPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS and filed Mar. 30, 1970 in the name of Donald M.Harvey. Although the invention has been described in connection withmanually operated cameras, it obviously is equally applicable to camerasin which the film winding operation is performed by an electric orspring-powered motor.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tothe preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

I claim 1. A mechanism for moving a shutter actuating member to a cockedposition in a camera having a drive member rotatable with movement offilm in the camera, said mechanism comprising:

a motion transmitting member engageable with the shutter actuatingmember and movable relative to the drive member to move the shutteractuating member to the cocked position; and

a spiralshaped gear having an axis and a peripheral portion, said gearbeing mounted on said motion transmitting member for rotation about saidaxis, said peripheral portion being engageable with the drive member toeffect rotation of said gear, translation of said axis, and movement ofsaid motion transmitting member relative to the drive member, therebymoving the shutter actuating member to its cocked position, in responseto rotation of the drive member.

2. The mechanism claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera also has anindexable socket, and further comprising an indexing member coupled tothe shutter actuating member and engageable with the socket to index thesocket as the shutter actuating member is moved to its cocked position.

3. The mechanism claimed in claim 1 wherein said gear provides aneffective mechanical advantage, for transmitting a force from the drivemember to the shutter actuating member, which changes with rotation ofsaid gear.

4. A cocking mechanism for use in a camera in which an elongate strip offilm is advanced past an exposure position by being wound onto arotatable film-winding member, the camera including:

a. operating means for imparting rotation to the film-winding member;

b. a reciprocable member movable between a first position and a secondposition; and

c. spring means for biasing the reciprocable member toward the firstposition; said mechanism comprising:

d. a circular driving member rotatable in response to rotation of thefilm-winding member;

e. a driven member rotatable about a predetermined rotational axis andhaving a peripheral surface that spirals outwardly relative to said axisfrom a minimum radius to a maximum radius;

f. support means movable toward and away from said driving member androtatably supporting said driven member to permit engagement of saidperipheral surface with said driving member and movement of said axisrelative to said driving member;

g. resilient means biasing said support means toward said driving memberfor urging said peripheral surface into engagement with said drivingmember at a position substantially coincident with said minimum radiusto impart rotation of said driving member to said driven member and thuscause rotation of said driven member from said minimum radius positionthrough a position substantially coincident with said maximum radius,thereby moving said support means and said driven member away from saiddriving member until said maximum radius position is reached and thenallowing said resilient means to urge said support means and said drivenmember back toward said driving member after said maximum radiusposition is passed; and

h. movement translating means operatively associating said support meanswith the reciprocable member for translating movement of said axis awayfrom said driving member into movement of the reciprocable member fromthe first position to the second position.

5. The mechanism claimed in claim 4 wherein said driving member is acircular spur gear, and wherein said driven member is a spiral-shapedspur gear.

6. The mechanism claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

i. a rotatable socket member adapted to support a multiple lamp flashillumination unit; and

j. a socket indexing member engageable with said socket member andmovable by the reciprocable member to rotate said socket member througha predetermined angle in response to movement of the reciprocable memberfrom the first position to the second position.

7. A cocking mechanism for use in a camera in which an elongate strip offilm is advanced past an exposure position by being wound onto arotatable film-winding member, the camera including:

a. operating means for imparting rotation to the film-winding member;

b. a reciprocable member movable between a first position and a secondposition; and

c. spring means for biasing the reciprocable member toward the firstposition; said mechanism comprising:

(1. a circular driving member rotatable in response to rotation of thefilm-winding member;

e. a driven member rotatable about a predetermined rotational axis andhaving a peripheral surface that spirals outwardly relative to said axisfrom a minimum radius to a maximum radius; support means movable towardand away from said driving member and rotatably supporting said drivenmember to permit engagement of said peripheral surface with said drivingmember and movement of said axis relative to said driving member;

g. resilient means biasing said support means toward said driving memberfor urging said peripheral surface into engagement with said drivingmember at a position substantially coincident with said minimum radiusto impart rotation of said driving member to said driven member and thuscause rotation of said driven member from said minimum radius positionthrough a position substantially coincident with said maximum radius,thereby moving said support means and said driven member away from saiddriving member until said maximum radius position is reached and thenallowing said resilient means to urge said support means and said drivenmember back toward said driving member after said maximum radiusposition is passed;

h. movement translating means operatively associating said support meanswith the reciprocable member for translating movement of said axis awayfrom said driving member into movement of the reciprocable member fromthe first position to the second position;

i. latch means for releasably latching the reciprocable member in thesecond position in opposition to the spring means; and

j. blocking means operable when the reciprocable member is latched inthe second position for blocking said support means during its returnmovement toward said driving member to thereby temporarily maintain saiddriven member out of engagement with said driving member.

8. A cocking mechanism for use in a camera in which an elongate strip offilm is advanced past an exposure position by being wound onto arotatable film-winding member, the camera including:

a. operating means for imparting rotation to the film-winding member;

b. a reciprocable member movable between a first position and a secondposition; and

c. spring means for biasing the reciprocable member toward the firstposition; said mechanism comprising:

a circular driving member rotatable in response to rotation of thefilm-winding member;

e. a driven member rotatable about a predetermined rotational axis andhaving a peripheral surface that spirals outwardly relative to said axisfrom a minimum radius to a maximum radius;

f. support means movable toward and away from said driving member androtatably supporting said driven member to permit engagement of saidperipheral surface with said driving member and movement of said axisrelative to said driving member;

g. resilient means biasing said support means toward said driving memberfor urging said peripheral surface into engagement with said drivingmember at a position substantially coincident with said minimum radiusto impart rotation of said driving member to said driven member and thuscause rotation of said driven member from said minimum radius positionthrough a position substantially coincident with said maximum radius,thereby moving said support means and said driven member away from saiddriving member until said maximum radius position is reached and thenallowing said resilient means to urge said support means and said drivenmember back toward said driving member after said maximum radiusposition is passed;

h. movement translating means operatively associating said support meanswith the reciprocable member for translating movement of said axis awayfrom said driving member into movement of the reciprocable member fromthe first position to the second position;

i. latch means for releasably latching the reciprocable member in thesecond position in opposition to the spring means;

j. blocking means operable when the reciprocable member is latched inthe second position for blocking said support means during its returnmovement toward said driving member to thereby temporarily maintain saiddriven member out of engagement with said driving member;

1. A mechanism for moving a shutter actuating member to a cockedposition in a camera having a drive member rotatable with movement offilm in the camera, said mechanism comprising: a motion transmittingmember engageable with the shutter actuating member and movable relativeto the drive member to move the shutter actuating member to the cockedposition; and a spiral-shaped gear having an axis and a peripheralportion, said gear being mounted on said motion transmitting member forrotation about said axis, said peripheral portion being engageable withthe drive member to effect rotation of said gear, translation of saidaxis, and movement of said motion transmitting member relative to thedrive member, thereby moving the shutter actuating member to its cockedposition, in response to rotation of the drive member.
 2. The mechanismclaimed in claim 1 wherein the camera also has an indexable socket, andfurther comprising an indexing member coupled to the shutter actuatingmember and engageable with the socket to index the socket as the shutteractuating member is moved to its cocked position.
 3. The mechanismclaimed in claim 1 wherein said gear provides an effective mechanicaladvantage, for transmitting a force from the drive member to the shutteractuating member, which changes with rotation of said gear.
 4. A cockingmechanism for use in a camera in which an elongate strip of film isadvanced past an exposure position by being wound onto a rotatablefilm-winding member, the camera including: a. operating means forimparting rotation to the film-winding member; b. a reciprocable membermovable between a first position and a second position; and c. springmeans for biasing the reciprocable member toward the first position;said mechanism comprising: d. a circular driving member rotatable inresponse to rotation of the film-winding member; e. a driven memberrotatable about a predetermined rotational axis and having a peripheralsurface that spirals outwardly relative to said axis from a minimumradius to a maximum radius; f. support means movable toward and awayfrom said driving member and rotatably supporting said driven member topermit engagement of said peripheral surface with said driving memberand movement of said axis relative to said driving member; g. resilientmeans biasing said support means toward said driving member for urgingsaid peripheral surface into engagement with said driving member at aposition substantially coincident with said minimum radius to impartrotation of said driving member to said driven member and thus causerotation of said driven member from said minimum radius position througha position substantially coincident with said maximum radius, therebymoving said support means and said driven member away from said drivingmember until said maximum radius position is reached and then allowingsaid resilient means to urge said support means and said driven memberback toward said driving member after said maximum radius position ispassed; and h. movement translating means operatively associating saidsupport means with the reciprocable member for translating movement ofsaid axis away from said driving member into movement of thereciprocable member From the first position to the second position. 5.The mechanism claimed in claim 4 wherein said driving member is acircular spur gear, and wherein said driven member is a spiral-shapedspur gear.
 6. The mechanism claimed in claim 4 further comprising: i. arotatable socket member adapted to support a multiple lamp flashillumination unit; and j. a socket indexing member engageable with saidsocket member and movable by the reciprocable member to rotate saidsocket member through a predetermined angle in response to movement ofthe reciprocable member from the first position to the second position.7. A cocking mechanism for use in a camera in which an elongate strip offilm is advanced past an exposure position by being wound onto arotatable film-winding member, the camera including: a. operating meansfor imparting rotation to the film-winding member; b. a reciprocablemember movable between a first position and a second position; and c.spring means for biasing the reciprocable member toward the firstposition; said mechanism comprising: d. a circular driving memberrotatable in response to rotation of the film-winding member; e. adriven member rotatable about a predetermined rotational axis and havinga peripheral surface that spirals outwardly relative to said axis from aminimum radius to a maximum radius; f. support means movable toward andaway from said driving member and rotatably supporting said drivenmember to permit engagement of said peripheral surface with said drivingmember and movement of said axis relative to said driving member; g.resilient means biasing said support means toward said driving memberfor urging said peripheral surface into engagement with said drivingmember at a position substantially coincident with said minimum radiusto impart rotation of said driving member to said driven member and thuscause rotation of said driven member from said minimum radius positionthrough a position substantially coincident with said maximum radius,thereby moving said support means and said driven member away from saiddriving member until said maximum radius position is reached and thenallowing said resilient means to urge said support means and said drivenmember back toward said driving member after said maximum radiusposition is passed; h. movement translating means operativelyassociating said support means with the reciprocable member fortranslating movement of said axis away from said driving member intomovement of the reciprocable member from the first position to thesecond position; i. latch means for releasably latching the reciprocablemember in the second position in opposition to the spring means; and j.blocking means operable when the reciprocable member is latched in thesecond position for blocking said support means during its returnmovement toward said driving member to thereby temporarily maintain saiddriven member out of engagement with said driving member.
 8. A cockingmechanism for use in a camera in which an elongate strip of film isadvanced past an exposure position by being wound onto a rotatablefilm-winding member, the camera including: a. operating means forimparting rotation to the film-winding member; b. a reciprocable membermovable between a first position and a second position; and c. springmeans for biasing the reciprocable member toward the first position;said mechanism comprising: d. a circular driving member rotatable inresponse to rotation of the film-winding member; e. a driven memberrotatable about a predetermined rotational axis and having a peripheralsurface that spirals outwardly relative to said axis from a minimumradius to a maximum radius; f. support means movable toward and awayfrom said driving member and rotatably supporting said driven member topermit engagement of said peripheral surface with said driving memberand movement of said axis relative to said driving member; g. resilientmeans biasing said support means toward said driving member for urgingsaid peripheral surface into engagement with said driving member at aposition substantially coincident with said minimum radius to impartrotation of said driving member to said driven member and thus causerotation of said driven member from said minimum radius position througha position substantially coincident with said maximum radius, therebymoving said support means and said driven member away from said drivingmember until said maximum radius position is reached and then allowingsaid resilient means to urge said support means and said driven memberback toward said driving member after said maximum radius position ispassed; h. movement translating means operatively associating saidsupport means with the reciprocable member for translating movement ofsaid axis away from said driving member into movement of thereciprocable member from the first position to the second position; i.latch means for releasably latching the reciprocable member in thesecond position in opposition to the spring means; j. blocking meansoperable when the reciprocable member is latched in the second positionfor blocking said support means during its return movement toward saiddriving member to thereby temporarily maintain said driven member out ofengagement with said driving member; k. a shutter adapted to be openedmomentarily in response to movement of the reciprocable member from thesecond position to the first position; and l. manually operable latchrelease means for releasing said latch means from the reciprocablemember to initiate movement of the reciprocable member from the secondposition to the first position by the spring means.